Fountain Lake Clean Up Moves Forward

Officials with the shell rock river watershed district approved a measure Tuesday that will allow the Fountain Lake clean water project to move forward.

The approval means officials can now seek real cost estimates for the project that will involve dredging the lake bottom to mitigate algae blooms and create animal habitats.

Last fall the district purchased over $300,000 in equipment, but officials say there's still a long way to go.

“Now it's just really going after the money to complete the entire project,” said Andy Henschel, director of field operations for the Shell Rock River Watershed District. “And also the planning stage to actually show the people what we're going to be doing with fountain lake."

The total cost for the project is estimated at $15 million and district officials are still seeking state funding to cover half of that cost.